Last night, while I was finishing my dinner, my husband reminded me that I haven't returned a phone call from a parent of one our son's friends. I told him that I hadn't had time, was feeling stressed and overwhelmed, and just wanted to focus on my dinner at the moment. (Because what a freakin' chore that can be. Am I right, ladies?) He then said he doesn't understand why I'm stressed, since we don't have a stressful life. Oh, really? I'm so glad to hear that about us. And then he yelled a filthy curse word because he accidentally broke the coffee pot he was cleaning, slicing open his finger. While he went to deal with his bleeding hand, I tossed out the rest of my dinner and finished the dishes. His sliced hand probably saved him from many things.
I've been composing a blog entry in my head all day, all about the different things on my plate and the separate things that are making me feel overwhelmed. But honestly? Just thinking about all that was stressing me out even more. Suffice it to say that I'm having a rough week. This is also the beginning of the time of year when I really wish that we could afford for me to quit my job and stay home. My kid is about to be out of school for the Summer, and I'd like to spend time with him, take him to the pool, the library, the Children's Museum, make a fun Summer of it. Instead of paying to send him to daycare every day. But I haven't been able to make our budget work for that.
My in-laws have been down for three months. They don't stay with us, they rent a condo about 40 minutes away. But we see them nearly every weekend, and spend far more time with them than we do with my family, since they're only here for three months. Now they've put in an offer on a house, and plan to sell their house in New York and move here. It will be nice to have them here, and have free babysitting whenever we need it. But I'm used to having them 2000 miles away, not 40 minutes away for most of the year. It's complicated.
Only five more weeks until we take two kids on a trip to Disney World!
Whew! So glad all that stress is just in my head.
I agree that writing about stress can sometimes make stress worse. Just take things one at a time, and remember to breathe. You'll get through it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that I will. Not so sure about the husband :-)
DeleteSo glad I never had to deal with my in laws living that close :)
ReplyDeleteI wish you could spend the summers with your babies. I am so thankful that as a teacher I had the chance to spend every summer with my kids...great memories of our summers :)
I bet! Summer is also the time I always kick myself and say "why didn't I become a teacher?!"
DeleteSometimes men don't get it.
ReplyDeleteThey want to "fix it" (which can sound like "shut up already") instead of letting you talk about it which might help you feel less stressed.
I second guess my choice to stay home on a regular basis, fwiw. ;-P I won't go into detail on that, in case it sounds like I'm doing the "fix it" thing, but I could describe that the grass isn't greener if you ever want me to. ;-D (Okay, just one...my kids have begged me before to GO TO after school care or summer day care camps, and I have to explain we can't afford them because mom doesn't work, and those are for kids who's parents both work, lol! Most kids are all in those camps these days, not hanging around to play with all summmer! Even though their buddies in day care might think my kids have a good deal - to my kids, their friends had it made!!)
I hope you have a blast at Disney World.
I did the fix it thing...didn't I? I like what RockBand said. I wish you could have exactly what you want. xo
DeleteI find it hard to hear women feel bad about their choice to work or stay home, because I find that struggle so difficult myself - I've done every version. I'm sorry if I said the wrong thing.
You definitely didn't, Cheri. I needed to be reminded the grass isn't always greener. I'm sure staying at home wouldn't be all playtime and picnics like I imagine. Plus, we'd definitely have to do without some of the perks that come from having two incomes. I think it's a tough choice to make either way, and whichever one we choose, we probably will always wonder if it was the right one.
Deletemen! always trying to fix things. Hope you work thru your stress!
ReplyDelete